Join in praying for Christian broadcasting and all who share the Gospel through media. Led by CBC Trustee Jonathan Ford, this time of prayer seeks to uplift broadcasters, their work and impact on the world. You can watch the video below or read the edited transcript that follows.
Hi, Welcome to Praying for Christian Broadcasting with CBC. This is the first in the series when we will do a section on teaching on prayer, and then a section of praying for somebody in the media. And the theme, or core to our teaching will be the Lord’s Prayer. So let’s begin with the prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Open our hearts and our minds to the truth of your scriptures and give us the power of the Holy Spirit to pray for those people and things which are extending your Kingdom through the media on your planet.
Amen.
So, one of the interesting things about prayer at the moment is how little of it goes on in Europe and America. Apparently, according to recent surveys and polls, less than 11% of Americans have a regular quiet time involving reading the Bible and saying their prayers. In the UK, it’s even worse, at around 6% of the total population. This is particularly sad because there has never been a time with more translations of the Bible in English, making it so easy to access.
Additionally, there are many prayer apps and tools to encourage prayer. Any Christian who reads the news or attends church knows how much the world, particularly Europe and America, needs our prayers right now. So we must pray. One further sadness is that when the disciples came to Jesus, impressed by His prayer life, they asked Him to teach them to pray.
Jesus responded by giving them the Lord’s Prayer. Unfortunately, in many churches today, the Lord’s Prayer is either not used in worship or is recited as part of the liturgy, losing its meaning. This goes against what Jesus taught. We will look at this prayer in depth, starting with the first two words: “Our Father.”
Some struggle with the term “Father” due to negative experiences with their earthly fathers. Yet, we all inherently understand what a good father should be. The key to the first two words is this: God belongs to everyone, whether they believe in Him or not. He is our Father in the sense that we belong to Him, and He to us. More personally, He is your Father and mine. This binds humanity as brothers and sisters before God, who will one day hold us all accountable for our actions and words.
God is not a distant or uncaring Father. While modern society may have driven Him away, He still loves and cares for us deeply. He is the Father described in the Gospel of John, chapters 14–16, who provides for us, created the world for us, and watches over us, longing to do more if we allow Him.
Jesus emphasises the Father’s closeness, saying, “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.” When we see Jesus, we see the Father, and when we pray to the Father, we are also praying to Jesus. Jesus makes extraordinary prayer promises, such as, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do.” He assures us of the Father’s love, saying, “The Father himself loves you because you have loved me and believed that I came from God.
Jesus also says, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Prayer is not just for improving well-being or for change—though it does change us—but for connecting with the one who truly loves us and provides for us.
Imagine meeting a king who turns out to be your close relative, offering you the same privileges as his children. This is the relationship we have when we pray to “Our Father.” In Aramaic, Jesus used the term “Abba,” meaning “Daddy,” to convey intimacy. This prayer is a personal dialogue with a loving Father.
Praying for Christian Broadcasting – Premier Christian Radio
Let us now pray, focusing on Premier Christian Radio. Premier is not just a radio station but a multimedia organisation producing films, magazines, and more. It has served our nation for years. Today, Premier invites us to consider the following prayer list:
- The assisted suicide bill in Parliament. We ask for wisdom for lawmakers to avoid passing harmful legislation. We ask that parliamentarians would show great wisdom and understanding before they pass legislation, that could cause great difficulty and anxiety to not only the people concerned, but also to the NHS system and of course, all those involved in palliative care.
- Healing for Linda, the wife of Premier’s chair of trustees, who has been diagnosed with lymphoma.
- Success in Premier’s search for a new home. Their current base is temporary, and they need a permanent space to continue their work.
Finally, we conclude with a special prayer for Premier:
“Dear Lord, Premier is your creation. We look to you for direction and protection. Help us to trust you, listen to your voice, and wait on you. Open our eyes to see everything and each other in your way. May we be united in faith and trust, submitting to your will. Thank you, Good Shepherd, for your promise to direct our paths. Bless Premier, its audiences, and all who work with them. Protect Premier spiritually as they stand firm in Christian media. We worship and adore you, giving thanks in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
May the Lord bless your prayer life as we grow together in faith. Amen.
